Israel Frees 151 Captives, Keeps Peace Deal Alive

OTHER NEWS TO NOTE - The World

October 16, 1999

JERUSALEM - Israel set its interim peace deal with the Palestinians back on track Friday with the release of 151 Arab security prisoners and a planned weekend opening of a land link between the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, negotiations for a final peace accord will not begin until Prime Minister Ehud Barak decides on Israel's strategy for the talks, his spokeswoman said, despite a February deadline for a framework agreement. Prisoner releases are an emotional issue for both sides. Palestinians consider the inmates heroes in the struggle for independence, while a majority of Israelis still strongly oppose freeing those who have killed Israelis.